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Tuesday, July 25, 2006

The legend of Bhoop Bahadur

Not so long ago, there appeared in the Sunday-Magazine of a national daily, a photograph of one of the erstwhile rulers, by the name of Bhoop Bahadur, of what was once an Indian princely state.

Now, what set me thinking was how this blue-blooded gent came to acquire the title/nomenclature of 'Bhoop Bahadur'. I mean I have heard of titles like 'Rai Bahadur', 'Sardar Bahadur' and the like but 'Bhoop Bahadur'...

Somehow, it did not seem to figure. I sat ruminating on the matter for quite a while, sunday papers in hand, reclined in an easy chair, enjoying the gentle warmth of the winter sun on my face. But...

Then, suddenly I hit upon the right note! As the one 'aloo ka paraanthha' too many I had had during breakfast that day started to take effect, there came from somewhere behind where I was sitting, a sound which distinctly sounded like, well, "BHOOP!".

Eureka! So, that is how this venerable gentleman must have come about to be called as 'Bhoop Bahadur'. His state certainly must have been one of the windiest places! Well I must say that the British definitely took a lot of care to ensure that the titles they awarded actually held a lot of relevance.

And, that also explained his posture in the picture. He sat cross legged!